China’s Total Rare Earth Exports Increased 4% in 2018

Export volume up 4% over previous year

Exports were steady throughout the first five months of the year, averaging 4,168 tonnes per month. Exports peaked in June at 5,456 tonnes and later dipped to 3,100 tonnes in October before bouncing back to 5,421 tonnes in December.

Value of rare earth exports up 24% over year prior

By value, China exported US $513.6 million worth of rare earth oxides (and oxide equivalents) in 2018 – an increase of 23.7% over the value of rare earths exported in 2017.

On average, monthly exports amounted to US $42.8 million, but touched a low of US $29.6 million in January and a high of US $51.7 million in August.

Average unit price of exports up 20%

Overall, China’s rare earth exports commanded an average price of US $9.77 per kilogram in 2018, marking a 19.9% increase versus 2017 as global demand growth for certain high price rare earths (such as neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium and terbium) continues to outpace demand growth for other low price rare earths (such as cerium and lanthanum).